Grapple



Sept. 10, 1929. M. w. SHROYER' 1,723,034

GRAPPLE Filed July 29, 1927 W WXSZTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES MELVIN w. SHROYER, or numnonnn nnnnnska.

GRAPPLE.

Application filed July 29,

This invention relates to grapples and tongs, and its general object is to provide a grapple or tong of the crossed lever'type that is primarily designed to handle railroad ties,

sills, logs, poles and the like, and will automatically secure and release itself to and from the article handled, with the result manual operation of the grapple in this respect is practically unnecessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grapple of the character above set forth, that is simple in construction and 1nexpensive to manufacture.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the grapple forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an edge elevation.

Referring to the drawings in detail the reference numerals 1 and 2 indicate the levers or shanks of the grapple as shown, and these levers or shanks are substantially flat and slightly enlarged adjacent their central portion as shown. The enlarged portions 3 are provided with openings to accommodate a headed pivot pin 4 for pivotally securing the respective parts of the grapple together.

Formed integral with each of the levers or shanks 1 and 2 and at their lower ends are converging arms 5 and 6 which present a substantially fork shape configuration as shown. The arms 5 and 6 are braced through the instrumentality of a cross piece 7 having its ends secured to enlarged portions formed with said arms intermediate their ends and from the cross piece 7 the arms are arranged in parallelism as at 8 and terminate in pointed ends 9.

The arms of each of the members of the 1927. Serial No. 209,295.

grapple are curved toward each other for cooperation as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and the portions 8 are curved to such a degree that the pointed ends 9 thereof are arranged above the plane of the lowest 5 part thereof. The points 9 terminate in parallelism and are of course adapted to penetrate the articles handled by the grapple.

The upperends of the levers or shanks 1 and 2 terminate in eyes 10 which are adapted to receive one of the end links of flexible elements 11 which as shown are chains. The chains 11 have their opposite end links received in a ring 12 which is adapted to be secured to the cable of a derrick or the like as will be readily apparent.

From the above description and disclosure of the drawings, it will be obvious that I have provided a grapple that can be secured to the articles to be handled thereby, by mere ly lowering the same so as to position the article between the pointed ends 9; by raising the grapple the pointed ends 9 will penetratethe article to be handled. with the result that it can be lifted and carried from place to place as desired, and when it is desired to dispose of the article, the same may be lowered, and the grapple will be'released therefrom by allowing the article to engage a supporting means or the ground in a quick manner.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A grapple of the character described comprising substantially flat levers, means for pivotally securing the levers intermediate their ends, eyes formed on one of the ends of said levers, flexible elements arranged in said eyes, arms having converging portions and formed on the opposite ends of said levers, said arms being enlarged intermediate their ends, a cross piece having its ends secured to the enlarged portions of said arms,

a 2 a I I 1323.024

parallel portions included in said arms and extending from the cross piece penetrating points formed on the free ends of said parallel portions, and said parallel portions beingc'urved to a degree so as to dispose the penetrating points above the plane of the lowest part thereof. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 10 MELVIN V. SHROYER. 

